Reciprocating cutter.



J. STEINMAN.

,RECIPROCATING CUTTER.

APPLICATION men FEB; 7, 1914.

1,164,669., I v I Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

3 SHEETS-411E 1.

$871 fitemmm.

J. STEINMAN.

RECIPROCATING CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB; 7, 1914.

1,16%,669. Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. STEINMAN.

REQIPROCATING CUTTER. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7, 1914.

1,16%,6fi90 Patented Dec. 21, 191.5.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- UNYFED ATEIWF F1@.

JOSEPH STEINIVIAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,TO (MRS) ETTA VIGTOR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RECIPROCATING CUTTER.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

Application filedlebruary 7, 1914. Serial No. 817,112.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn STEINMAN, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inReciprocating Cutters; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

In large tailoring establishments the cutting of the fabric, unless donein large quantities, represents. an unavoidable loss of time, andoverhead ex ense. Power driven outters have been constructed adapted tobe manipulated by hand to operate through a plurality of layers ofcloth, but in most instances as heretofore constructed, they have beencumbersome to an extent precluding easy operationand in particular,preventing sharp turns or cuts to be made within a small area.

This invention relates to a friction driven reciprocating cutter adaptedto be moved and guided by hand to out through a plurality of layers ofcloth, and capable of being easily manipulated in a restricted area. Analmost inherent defect in other cutters placed upon the market has beenthe inability of the cutting knife to properly sever the lowest layer offabric Where a plurality of layers are cut simultaneously, but: in myinvention this defect is corrected by positively actuated mechanism forinstantane ously thrusting and holding the lower layer upwardly at themoment the knife cuts therethrough.

It is an object of this invention to construct a friction drivenreciprocating cloth cutter provided with adjustable means to admitcutting two or more layers of fabric, and with means for changing theamplitude of movement of the cutting knife.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a powerdrivenreciprocating cutter provided with clutch mechanism for connecting anddisconnecting the drive, and

with a rolling table or base to permit easy movement of the entiredevice into various positions to cut the cloth.

It is also an object of this invention to construct a friction drivenreciprocating cutter having a rolling base with a bushing or sub-basejournaled therein, with the cutting knife and guiding foot of the devicemounted on said sub-base to permit easy adjustment of the mechanism in arestricted area.

It isfurthermore an object of this invention to construct a devicemounted upon. a rolling table base with the guiding and driving meansfor a reciprocating knife supported upon a rotatable sub-base. mountedin said base and provided with a handle for guiding the same, and. witha finger piece adjacent thereto for connecting and reconnecting thedrive from the knife.

It is finally an object of this invention to construct, a simple deviceconsisting of few parts, practically all of which are adjustable toadmit different numbers of layers of fabric to be out and to vary theamplitude of movement of the knife, and with the parts. arranged in amanner requiring little space to admit manipulation in a confined area.

The invention (in a preferred form). is illustrated in the drawings andhereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a conventional illustration illustratingthe manner in which two or more similar devices are in use at the sametime. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a device embodying the principlesof my invention, showing a casing broken away. Fig. 3 is a top plan viewthereof, the casing removed. Fig. 4 is a section taken on line l1 ofFig. 3, and showing the device cutting through several layers of fabric.Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 55 of Fig. i. Fig. 6 is a sectiontaken on line 6-6v of Fig. 1-. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail partly insection illustrating the attaching means for a knife permittingadjustment thereof to compensate for grinding thereof. Fig. 8 is adetail of the slidable clutch or transmission shaft of the device. Fig.9 is a fragmentary detail in elevation, showing the adjustable mountingfor the tracing foot and knife guard. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectiontaken on line 10-10 of Fig. 3. Fig. 11 is a section taken on line 1111of Fig. 2, illustrating the rotatable sub-base partly broken away whichis journaled in the rolling base of the device. Fig. 12 is a sectiontaken on line 1212 of Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a section taken on line 1313of Fig. 7.

As shown in the drawings: As shown in Fig. 1, where several similarcutting devices are used, a main line shaft 1, may be mountedconveniently on the ceiling by brackets 2, and driven by a motor 3. Atthe various points on said line shaft co-acting bevel gears i, serve todrive a flexible shaft 5, which communicates its movement to a cuttingdevice mounted at the end thereof in a manner hereinafter described.

The cutting device comprises a base 6, the peripheral margin of which istapered or beveled toward the edges to permit the base to be easilyinserted beneath a fabric, and for'the purpose of easily rolling thesame about the cutting table a plurality of balls 7, are provided in thelower surface of the base, and held in position by cages 8, threadedinto said base. Mounted centrally within said base, whichis preferablycircular, as shown in Fig. 3, is a sub-base 9, which is journaled orsupported within said base with its upper surface flush therewith bymeans of a plurality of balls 10, and with a flange ring 11, threaded onthe lower portion'thereof and engaging in a circular recess in the lowerface of the base 6, to hold said sub-base associated with the base 6, atall times. Threaded securely into said subbase 9, at the center thereof,is a sleeve or tube 12, having a slot 13, extending for the entirelength on the front side thereof. Rigidly attached to the upper end ofsaid tube 12, on the side opposite said slot 13, is a bracket 14, withmachine screws 15, inserted through apertures therein and threading intosaid tube 12, serving to afford the connection between said tube andbracket. Threaded. into said bracket 14, is an elongated bushing 16,which afiords support for a slidable clutch shaft 17 having a slot inthe end thereof to receive the squared end 18, of the flexible drivingshaft 5, therein. An apertured plug lti is threaded into the end of saidbushing 16, to retain the shaft inoperative relation. Journaled in saidbracket 14, is a short shaft 19, provided on its outer end with a disk20, and on its inner .end with 'a small friction disk 21. A similarfriction disk 22, is provided upon said slidable shaft 17, which, whenprojected into engagement with said disk 21, serves to transmit thedrive from said flexible driving shaft 5, to said large disk 20. Asectional actuating or knife carrying rod is slidably mounted withinsaid tube 12, and consists of a main section 23, which is substantiallycircular in cross section for its entire length except at the upper end,where it is adjustably connected with a semi-circular section 24, bymeans of a short bolt 24*, engaging in one of a number of threadedapertures in each of said sections. Said disk 20, is provided with aplurality of threaded apertures at difierent radial dis tancesfrom thecenter, as denoted bv the reference numeral 25, and extending through ayoke 26, formed on the upper end of said rod section 2 1, is a studscrew 27, adapted to be threaded into any one of said apertures in saiddisk, whereby the amplitude of movement of the sectional knife carryingrod may be varied. For the purpose of actuating said slidable shaft 17,to move the respective friction driving disks 21 and 22, into engagementwith one another, a bell crank having a yoked extension 28, is pivotedon said bracket 11, with the yoke ext-ending partly around said shaft17, adapted to contact the rear surface of said disk 22, and with an arm29, forming the other portion of said bell crank loosely and pivotallyconnected to a vertically movable actuating bar 30. A pin 31, is rigidlysecured on the lower end of said bracket 1-1:, affording attaching meansfor a handle 32, and also a guide for the lower end of said actuatingbar 30, which is stamped outwardly to afford a slot to receive said pin31, therethrough, and with the outwardly stamped portion 33, affording alinger piece for actuating said bar. Adjustably clamped upon saidupright tube 12, by means of set screws 34:, is an adjustable knifeshield or guard 35, provided with a clamping or trueing foot 36, saidset screws engaging through longitudinal slots in said guard member topermit the same, when said screws are loosened, to be set at anyposition above the base 6.

When the device is in use, as shown more clearly in Fig. at, it isadvanced forwardly y means of an operating gripping handle The lower endof said rod section 23, is slotted to receive a cutting knife 37,therein, adapted to be held in position by means of a clamping screw 38,which engages through a slot 89, in said knife. The purpose ofconnecting the knife blade into the rod section by means of a screwengaging through a slot is to permit the knife to be moved downwardly toits lowest position before being clamped in place after the knife hasbeen ground or sharpened on its lower edge. As the knife blade is raisedand lowered, due to the reciprocating movement of the rod section 23, itslides in the slot 13, in the upright tube 12, and then in elevatedposition is shielded by the guard hen the device is in use, the base (5,is advanced beneath the lower layer of a series of layers of fabric -10,with the tracing or clamping foot 36, bearing on the upper layerthereof. For the purpose of insuring the lowermost layer being cut bythe descending knife 37. a pivoted prcsser foot 4-1, is mounted in saidsub-base S), with one end of said lever disposed directly beneath thetube 12, to be struck by the descending rod section 23, and the otherend of said presser member 41, is provided with a [lat knurled surface,which is thrust upwardly against l 5.1. at ,LQQB

the lowermost layer of the fabric to slightly move and hold the sameupwardly while the knife passes therethrough, and of course with anelevation of said rod section 23, immediately dropping downwardly bygravity, so as not to hinder relative movement between the base 6, andthe fabric.

The operation is as follows: The device is relatively small and light,and owing to the balls in the base 6, it is easily rolled about acutting table, the flexible driving shaft 5, interfering in no mannerwhatsoever with operation of the device. The sub-base or bushing 9,which is also on ball bearings in the base 6, and supports the cuttingmechanism, particularly well adapts the device to operation in small orconfined space. When the device is in use, it is moved along with thebase 6, passing beneath the layers of fabric 40, and with the tracingfoot 36, indicating to the operator the proper line of movement, as wellas serving to retain the top layers of the fabric properly in positionfor cutting. The adjustable connection provided between the respectiveactuating rod sections 23 and 24, allows the knife to be raised orlowered different amounts to properly correspond with the pin and yokeconnection of the section 23, with the driving disk 20, inasmuch as saidpin and yoke may be connected in the apertures 25, at various distancesfrom the center to vary the throw of the knife. By using a knife with aslot therein, as clearly shown in Fig. 7, I thus acquire a means ofadjusting the knife to compensate for the wear due to grinding orsharpening the same, inasmuch as upon replacing the knife blade 37,within the slotted rod 23, the knife always rests against the lower endof the rod and the set screw 38, is then tightened to securely clamp theknife in position.

I have not shown a spring or other connection for withdrawing thefriction disks out of engagement when not impelled into engagement bydepression of the finger piece 33, inasmuch as the driving engagement isnot a positive interlocking of parts, a spring to throw the same out ofengagement is not necessary.

The casing 35, affords a guard or shield for the knife when the same isin elevated position during its reciprocating movement, and the casingis adjustable upon the tube 12, as shown by the pin and slot connectionsin Fig. 9, permitting movement of the same into various positionsdependent upon the amplitude of movement of the knife. A casing 42, maybe provided attached upon the bracket 14, to inclose the disk 20, andyoke 26, to prevent an operator accidentally coming into contacttherewlth.

I am aware that various details of construction may be varied through awide range without departing from the principles of this invention. Itherefore do not pur pose limiting the patent granted otherwise thannecessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described a sloping base, an uprightjourn-aled therein reciprocating mechanism within said upright, a knifecarried by said mechanism, adjustable guard therefor, said knife adaptedto cut through layers of cloth partly supported on said base, and amember pivoted in said base adapted to insure cutting of the lowerlayers of said cloth.

2. A cutting device of the class described comprising a rolling base,reciprocating mechanism rotatably mounted thereon, friction clutchmechanism for connecting said reciprocating mechanism with a source ofpower, cutting means carried by said mechanism to move therewith, anadjustable casing for said cutting means, and clamping means integralwith said casing.

3. In a device of the class described a supporting base, a plurality ofoperating mechanisms therein, an upright standard mounted on one of saidmechanisms, cutting mechanism adapted to reciprocate upon said standard,a drive for said cutting mechanism, and means for guiding the device andconnecting and disconnecting said mechanism from said drive.

4;. In a device of the class described a base, a sub-base rotatabletherein, an upright supported upon said sub-base, reciprocating cuttingmeans mounted on said upright, driving means therefor, meansdisconnecting the drive therefrom, and a plurality of mechanisms forholding a plurality of layers of fabric in position during a cuttingmovement of the mechanism.

5. In a device of the class described a base, rollers journaled therein,a sub-base rotatable in said base, a pivoted presser foot for the fabricmounted in said sub-base, reciprocating mechanism mounted upon saidsub-base adapted to be moved therewith, a driving disk, adjustableeccentric connections between said reciprocating mechanism and said diskto vary the amplitude of movement of said mechanism, and meansconnecting and disconnecting the drive for said disk.

6. In a friction driven cutting device a sloping movable base adapted tobe thrust along beneath a fabric, a casing member adapted to trackoverthe upper surface of the fabric and to hold the same against saidbase, reciprocating cutting mechanism to cut through the fabric, andmeans actuated thereby to thrust the under surface of the fabricupwardly, clamping the same beneath said tracing member when saidcutting mechanism descends.

7. In a device of the class described friction driven cutting mechanismcomprising a. reciprocating knife, means varying the amplitude ofmovement of said knife, an adjustable mounting for said knife capable ofbeing assembled in different positions to compensate for Wear on theknife, and a sectional member supporting said knife and adjustable tocompensate for'variations in the amplitude of reciprocation thereof.

8. In a cutting machine of the class described a combination adjustableclamp and Copies of this patent may be obtained for guard, a pivotedclamp, and cutting means slidable within said guard adapted to cutmaterial held between said clamps.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two 15 five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.Washington, I). C.

